Tochinoshin promoted to ozeki.

Tochinoshin ‘honored’ as ozeki promotion is made official
Details
Written by The Asahi Shimbun
Category: News
Published: 30 May 2018
Hits: 27

Tochinoshin promised to be an exemplary sumo wrestler as he was promoted from sekiwake to the second-highest rank of ozeki at a ceremony in the Kasugano stable on May 30.

“I am honored to accept the promotion,” said Tochinoshin, 30, on receiving the official word from stablemaster Dewanoumi, the former makuuchi Oginohana.

“I will follow what my stablemaster teaches me and work hard to be a role model for other sumo wrestlers,” added Tochinoshin, kneeling alongside his stablemaster Kasugano, the former sekiwake Tochinowaka.

The Japan Sumo Association unanimously decided to promote Tochinoshin, born Levan Gorgadze in Georgia, in an extraordinary meeting of directors at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on the morning of May 30.

Tochinoshin is the first sumo wrestler to rise to ozeki since Takayasu after last year’s Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, and he is the 11th ozeki to hail from overseas.

After competing in 60 tournaments before being promoted, Tochinoshin shares the record with Masuiyama for the slowest progress to the rank of ozeki in sumo's modern era.